Sakshi Malik was born on 03-09-1992 in Rohtak in the state of Haryana, India. She is an Indian freestyle Wrestler.

Career

Sakshi Malik was inspired by her grandfather named Badlhu Ram to take up wrestling as he was a wrestler. She started training for wrestling at the young age of 12. She was coached under the watchful eyes of Ishwar Dahiya at the Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak. She took up a sport which was considered as not meant for girls and therefore she and her coach had to face several problems in the initial stages of her career.

She earned her first ever medal in the 58kg free style event in 2010 at the Junior World Championships. This medal made her determination to win a medal for India even stronger and gave her the belief that she will bring an Olympic medal. Her career took a u-turn after she won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth games held in Glasgow. She finally made India proud when she became the first athlete from India to win a medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. In the process, she became the first female athlete ever to win an Olympic medal in the sport of wrestling.

As soon as she returned home after winning the medal, she was rewarded heavily. Many states in India awarded her a cash prize while she was promoted to a gazetted officer from senior clerk in the Indian Railways.